NBA: East-leading Hawks hold off Pistons

Eastern Conference leaders the Atlanta Hawks held off a furious Detroit rally to beat the Pistons 106-103 on Friday in a clash of streaking NBA teams.

Al Horford scored 19 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for the Hawks, who won their seventh straight game and ended the Pistons` winning streak at seven.

The Pistons hadn`t lost since releasing Josh Smith last month, but they went down early and trailed by as many as 23 before a comeback that gave them a chance to tie the score at the buzzer.

After an out-of-bounds call went their way on a video review, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope`s awkward three-point attempt from the right was short, and their winning streak was over.

Paul Millsap added 17 points for the Hawks.

Caldwell-Pope`s 23 attempted shots included 16 from three-point range. He missed all seven of his three-pointers through the first three quarters, but made four to lead the Pistons` late rally and finished with 20 points.

Elsewhere in the East, Washington`s Marcin Gortat had 21 points and 13 rebounds in the Wizards` 102-86 victory over Chicago.

Bradley Beal added 17 points for the Wizards, who have won three in a row and moved into second place in the East.

The Hawks will host the Wizards on Sunday in a Southeast Division contest.